Nearly 460 designers participate in the contest, from 17 countries and areas including Austria, China, Egypt, Ecuador, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Macau, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United States, Vietnam and Taiwan. The works have received inspiration from various fields, with the majority of them coming from the exploration of the environment, technology, or reflection of the retro periods. The works also involve memories of their growth related to hometown, journey, culture, interests, and the acceptance of various imperfections; discussion on awareness for environmental protection from the observation of the environment, issues related to public health in the post-pandemic period, and building their own utopia; topics in new technology such as drawing attention on the privacy of social media, AI, and digital technology, which all descript the future of imagination.

The works gather young “creativities” applying LED bionic light, 3D printing technology, or mobile inflator pump to a gigantic volumn but lightweight. Digital placement printing or whole-garment knitting technology cuts down the wastes through precised calculation by computer. Waste fabrics dye in natural materials such as blue dye, coffee grounds, curcuma longa or tea leaves to reduce chemical pollution. It has transformed the “sustainability” into the norms of design. Some contestants make classic styles into multi-pocket design, adjustable drawstrings for various occasion use, while others use reflective materials to enhance safety. “Function” designs have make wearing more convienient. Materials with “performance” like abrasion resistant, super elastic, moisture absorption or wicking fabrics have been widely used to improve wearing comfort.

Taiwan Fashion Design Award was organized by the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and exacuted by TTF, with the support of donations by Coddy Global Ltd., Fortune Industrial and Commercial Development Foundation, Lealea Enterprise Co., Ltd., Li Peng Enterprise Co., Ltd., New Wide Enterprise Co., Ltd., New Wide Garment Co., Ltd. The shortlisted works will compeat with each other at Taipei Fashion Week in mid-October.